Influence of alternative education on pupil’s academic performance during emergencies: a case of public schools in Nyando basin, Kisumu county, Kenya.

Abstract

According to Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Education For All (EFA„s) objective for the year 2015 it is necessary to reinforce Education In Emergencies (EIE is important for it offers preparedness, response and recovery of victims during disaster. The study sought to answer the Ho hypothesis that there is no difference in offering alternative physical environment during emergencies and pupils‟ performance. This study sought to stress on the importance of combating environmental related conflicts by proposing sound management of floods in Nyando Basin. Just as is like the feeling of UN Peace building Commission, it is important to avail chance to address environmental risks and provide a more consistent and coherent way of capitalizing on potential opportunities. The study sought to express that managing floods is no longer an option but a security imperative. The study highlight several educational ways of ensuring that sustainable peace is obtained through flood management. These factors identified are, alternative physical learning environment, alternative learning programs, teaching strategies, support services and therapeutic program. The mechanisms mentioned would go a long way in ensuring that performance is enhanced thus pointing out to a culture of peace. The purpose of the study was to assess the influence of alternative educational program on pupils‟ performance and its long run impact on the state of peace in the basin region In the study, the researcher employed descriptive research design. The target population for the study was respondents from public primary schools in Nyando Basin Ombeyi Zone. The proportion of the target population was unavailable so 384 size following Fisher et al‟s recommendation in Mugenda and Mugenda (2003) was used. The sample size of the study was 384 respondents. This study planned to use questionnaires to collect data from 1 TAC tutor,19 Head teachers, 38 class five to seven class teachers and 323 class six to eight pupils all from the 19 schools of study. Interviews were to be done among 3 class eight class teachers from the schools in the sample, however only 309 pupils responded while from the other groups all response were retrieved.. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected by using the mentioned tools that were later analyzed by the use of descriptive statistics using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and presented by using both statistical and graphical techniques. The findings were that when physical learning environment is offered during floods there tends to be an influence in performance. The study therefore recommended that the meteorological Department needs to be a little bit keener in forecasting early warning of floods, the school stake holders should strive be fore hand and to ensure that schools physical learning environment is safe for the pupils.